NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Gay-rights advocates challenging Louisiana’s same-sex marriage ban want the U.S. Supreme Court to review their case before it is heard by a federal appeals court.

In September, a federal judge in New Orleans upheld Louisiana’s ban.

An appeal of that ruling is tentatively set to be argued in January at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

However, lawyers for gay rights groups on Thursday said they have asked the Supreme Court to take the rare step of reviewing Louisiana’s case ahead of those arguments.

The high court already is being asked to consider an Ohio-based appeals court ruling upholding gay marriage bans. A lawyer in the Louisiana case says reviewing the state’s case as well would provide the justices with a broader array of legal arguments.

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